Farm Rich brand frozen foods recall expands to 10.5 million pounds

A food recall that began with 196,000 pounds of frozen mini meals
last week has grown to include 10.5 million pounds of frozen mini
cheeseburgers, sandwiches, quesadillas, cheese steaks and pizzas. All
are linked to an ongoing outbreak of E. coli that's sickened 27 people
in 15 states.

Rich Products of Buffalo expanded the list of foods
it has recalled on Thursday. It now includes all products produced at
the company's Waycross, Ga., plant with "Best by" dates ranging from
Jan. 1, 2013, to Sept. 29, 2014.

The products are sold under the
Farm Rich, Market Day, and Schwan's brands. They are heat-treated but
not fully cooked and are meant to be either microwaved or baked in an
oven.

The frozen foods have been linked to an outbreak of E. coli
O121 that has struck hardest in people 21 and under, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 27 people who've
gotten sick, 21 were in that age group.

Of the known victims, 35%
have been hospitalized. Two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome
(HUS), a type of kidney failure that can result from E. coli. No deaths
have been reported, CDC said.

The E. coli strain in the outbreak,
O121, is rare. It can result in dehydration, bloody diarrhea and
abdominal cramps for three to four days on average and more severe
illness. Symptoms can include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone,
fatigue, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth.
People who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care
immediately, CDC said.

A full list of the recalled products is available from the company at 1-888-220-5955 or on its website at www.farmrich.com.